Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU1078
2009-11-25 07:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: PM STILL MULLING PROMOTION OF CONTROVERSIAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001078
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PM STILL MULLING PROMOTION OF CONTROVERSIAL
GENERAL
REF: A. KATHMANDU 906
B. KATHMANDU 929
C. KATHMANDU 982
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001078
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PM STILL MULLING PROMOTION OF CONTROVERSIAL
GENERAL
REF: A. KATHMANDU 906
B. KATHMANDU 929
C. KATHMANDU 982
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
1. (C) During a November 24 meeting at his request, Chief
Secretary Madhav Ghimire told Charge that Prime Minister
Nepal had not made a final decision to promote General Toran
Jung Bahadur Singh to Lieutenant General, despite press
reports to the contrary. Post had previously expressed
concern about the promotion of Singh (refs A-C),who is
commanded the 10th Brigade at a time when one of its
battalions allegedly committed serious human rights abuses,
including torture of detained Maoists in the Maharajgunj
Barracks and the alleged execution of 49 of the detainees in
the Shiva Puri forest north of Kathmandu.
Investigation Done; No Evidence Against Singh
--------------
2. (C) Ghimire claimed that a committee consisting of the
Secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry
of Defense, and the Prime Minister's office had reviewed
Singh's case and not found any evidence directly implicating
Singh in any crime or human rights abuse. No court cases had
been filed against Singh. Ghimire suggested that perhaps the
order to commit human rights abuses at Maharajgunj Barracks
came "from the palace" or even the then-Chief of the Army
Staff, "bypasing Singh," adding that sometimes commanders
"simply have to follow orders." In this situation, it would
be unfair to deny Singh the promotion. Should evidence later
emerge implicating Singh, then he could be prosecuted.
Charge Outlines U.S. Concerns
--------------
3. (C) Charge said that any credible investigation of the
abuses committed at Maharajgunj Barracks must be complete and
assign proper responsibility. Charge noted that the
promotion of Singh would have a negative impact on the
current government's image and on the ability of the U.S. to
cooperate with the Nepal Army. The United States assigns
great importance to ending impunity for human rights abuses,
be they attributed to the Nepal Army or Maoists. Any
decision to promote Singh puts the interests of one
individual career over that of the institution.
4. (C) Ghimire thanked Charge for his honest assessment. The
Prime Minister values U.S. support and does not want to
"surprise" the United States. As the Prime Minister's
Foreign Policy Advisor, Rajan Bhattarai, suggested in late
October (ref C),Ghimire said the GON was preparing "four or
five" criminal cases against the perpetrators of the most
egregious human rights abuses, including the Maina Sunuwar
case. Charge said progress on those cases would be welcome,
but that the concerns about General Singh's promotion would
nonetheless continue.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The Prime Minister is clearly under intense pressure
to promote Singh, including perhaps from New Delhi.
Carefully-planned military careers, including the ascension
of Major General Gaurav S.J.B. Rana (reportedly a close ally
of India) to Chief of the Army Staff, turn on the Singh
promotion. Post will continue to stress the negative
implications of the Singh promotion on U.S.-Nepali military
cooperation and press for an independent, credible
investigation of the Maharajgunj incident.
BERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MARR NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: PM STILL MULLING PROMOTION OF CONTROVERSIAL
GENERAL
REF: A. KATHMANDU 906
B. KATHMANDU 929
C. KATHMANDU 982
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
1. (C) During a November 24 meeting at his request, Chief
Secretary Madhav Ghimire told Charge that Prime Minister
Nepal had not made a final decision to promote General Toran
Jung Bahadur Singh to Lieutenant General, despite press
reports to the contrary. Post had previously expressed
concern about the promotion of Singh (refs A-C),who is
commanded the 10th Brigade at a time when one of its
battalions allegedly committed serious human rights abuses,
including torture of detained Maoists in the Maharajgunj
Barracks and the alleged execution of 49 of the detainees in
the Shiva Puri forest north of Kathmandu.
Investigation Done; No Evidence Against Singh
--------------
2. (C) Ghimire claimed that a committee consisting of the
Secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry
of Defense, and the Prime Minister's office had reviewed
Singh's case and not found any evidence directly implicating
Singh in any crime or human rights abuse. No court cases had
been filed against Singh. Ghimire suggested that perhaps the
order to commit human rights abuses at Maharajgunj Barracks
came "from the palace" or even the then-Chief of the Army
Staff, "bypasing Singh," adding that sometimes commanders
"simply have to follow orders." In this situation, it would
be unfair to deny Singh the promotion. Should evidence later
emerge implicating Singh, then he could be prosecuted.
Charge Outlines U.S. Concerns
--------------
3. (C) Charge said that any credible investigation of the
abuses committed at Maharajgunj Barracks must be complete and
assign proper responsibility. Charge noted that the
promotion of Singh would have a negative impact on the
current government's image and on the ability of the U.S. to
cooperate with the Nepal Army. The United States assigns
great importance to ending impunity for human rights abuses,
be they attributed to the Nepal Army or Maoists. Any
decision to promote Singh puts the interests of one
individual career over that of the institution.
4. (C) Ghimire thanked Charge for his honest assessment. The
Prime Minister values U.S. support and does not want to
"surprise" the United States. As the Prime Minister's
Foreign Policy Advisor, Rajan Bhattarai, suggested in late
October (ref C),Ghimire said the GON was preparing "four or
five" criminal cases against the perpetrators of the most
egregious human rights abuses, including the Maina Sunuwar
case. Charge said progress on those cases would be welcome,
but that the concerns about General Singh's promotion would
nonetheless continue.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The Prime Minister is clearly under intense pressure
to promote Singh, including perhaps from New Delhi.
Carefully-planned military careers, including the ascension
of Major General Gaurav S.J.B. Rana (reportedly a close ally
of India) to Chief of the Army Staff, turn on the Singh
promotion. Post will continue to stress the negative
implications of the Singh promotion on U.S.-Nepali military
cooperation and press for an independent, credible
investigation of the Maharajgunj incident.
BERRY